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# Group fears repeat of Friarsgate after concerns are raised over funding gap for new leisure centre
- URL: https://lichfieldlive.co.uk/group-fears-repeat-of-friarsgate-after-concerns-are-raised-over-funding-gap-for-new-leisure-centre/
- Published: 2021-09-07T07:15:00.000Z
- Updated: 2021-09-07T07:04:41.000Z
- Description: A residents’ group says they fear “Friarsgate is about to repeat itself” after a report admitted concerns remained about securing funding for a new leisure centre in Lichfield.
- Author: Lichfield Live
- Tags: Community, Politics, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2026-07-22 19:15, News

A residents’ group says they fear “Friarsgate is about to repeat itself” after a report admitted concerns remained about securing funding for a new leisure centre in Lichfield.

![Stychbrook Park. Picture: Google Streetview](https://storage.ghost.io/c/e3/90/e390c3da-0866-4d2a-8ffe-ca4999d7ce1c/content/images/lichfieldlive-co-uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/stychbrookpark.jpg)

Stychbrook Park. Picture: Google Streetview

Lichfield District Council’s cabinet will discuss the latest on the proposed facility at Stychbrook Park at a meeting this evening (7th September).

Plans have already been scaled back in a bid to keep costs down, but [a report](https://lichfieldlive.co.uk/report-says-funding-gap-for-new-lichfield-leisure-remains-a-substantial-challenge/) said that a bridge still needed to be made between the local authority’s £5million investment in the project and the anticipated £11.65million cost.

A study had revealed the leisure facilities likely to be needed for the area by 2040 – but the report by Cllr Liz Little,cabinet member responsible for major projects, revealed that some elements would not feature due to concerns over costs.

A spokesperson for Beacon Street Area Residents’ Association said they feared the council could end up repeating mistakes of the past.

> “It looks like Friarsgate is about to repeat itself with the wrong development in the wrong place at the wrong time.  
>  
> “Will Lichfield District Council ever listen and learn?  
>  
> “Sadly, the business case looks fragile, struggling to raise the money points to investors not prepared to back it.”  
>  
> Beacon Street Area Residents’ Association spokesperson

![Cllr Liz Little](https://storage.ghost.io/c/e3/90/e390c3da-0866-4d2a-8ffe-ca4999d7ce1c/content/images/lichfieldlive-co-uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/bigpic-4.jpg)

Cllr Liz Little

Cllr Little said in her report that the council was hopeful of securing the finance for the new leisure centre – but added it was a “substantial challenge”.

> “It has always been intended that external funding will contribute towards the capital costs of a new leisure centre.  
>  
> “There are a range of external funding prospects being explored.”  
>  
> Cllr Liz Little, Lichfield District Council

[A consultation has been launched](https://lichfieldlive.co.uk/consultation-launched-on-plan-to-build-leisure-centre-on-park-in-lichfield/) on the plans to build the replacement for Friary Grange Leisure Centre at Stychbrook Park.

If the scheme goes ahead it will feature a 25 metre swimming pool, fitness suite, multi-purpose studio spaces and an outdoor 3G football pitch.